12 November 2010 Red Man in the Rain

Sam and I have decided that the “Green Man” likes to sleep on the job in central Brighton. He’s rarely seen and when he deigns to make an appearance, it’s a flash, a blink, a wink. You can’t get across the street before it’s “Red Man” rising.

So what do Brightonians do? They pretty much ignore all the men and their colors (colours for my British readers) and cross when they like. There’s no such thing as jay-walking in the UK. I’ve seen people dash in front of careening double decker buses whose drivers keep their feet nice and steady on the gas pedal. Central Brighton is one huge criss-cross fest of pedestrians, bicycles, hulking buses, and cars. And everywhere, on all sides of the streets, the Red Man glows. He never sleeps.

On our way back from Sam’s swim class I had a good 5 minutes to contemplate (and curse) the elusive Green Man while we waited to cross a particularly busy and dangerous road. The Red Man taunted us, but we held fast. It was rainy and windy and dark. Of course. “Maybe the Green Man doesn’t want to get wet,” Sam said. “In that case,” I said, “We’ll be here until April.”

And then there he was: a flash of green striding legs. We ran. And when we reached the other side the Red Man was waiting for us, smirking in the rain.